September Update

It has been so good to be back home in our village. It can be hard to find a normal again, but it is still good to be home!

Our lime tree gave abundantly! Kenny loves squeezing a half into his cup of water. We also used quite a few to make limeade. It's still a little tree, so it will be interesting to see how it produces next year.

The children started school again. Kelsey is in 9th grade and technically I am teaching her at home although she works at school in the mornings. Austin is in 5th and Brent in 3rd grade.

We celebrated Kelsey and Andrea's birthdays from August since we weren't around then. Patricia and her family came as well and we made fufu.

An ant trail that went right in front of our steps one morning. We let them there undisturbed and they were gone by evening. 

Austin turned 11! Where has time gone. He still has moments of boy but is definitely growing into a young man. He has been really enjoying his farming, most people would call it gardening. Our patch keeps growing. We have rows of corn and okra growing nicely, a volunteer tomato plant that is producing nicely, cabbage, more tomatoes, a pepper, a pumpkin vine. It isn't your typical garden but with our poor quality soil, we enjoy every plant we can get to grow!

He finally settled on a camp fire for his birthday supper. The lady that sells vegetables came just as we were getting the fire started. She looked and shook her head but didn't even ask questions. Foreigners are just such strange humans. They have a stove but still they cook outside???

We enjoyed our hot dog roast! With potatoes baked in the coals and campfire bread, it was a feast!

I like this picture for the rain drops and vibrant green. We have had beautiful showers and breezy, comfortable days. The breezes and hint of coolness make us think of fall, although when the sun shines, it is hot, reminding us that dry season is on it's way!

Every Saturday evening we have a Bible Study with the children of a local village. This little guy was so cute. They learn to carry things on their head when they are very young!

A picture of the road... why? not sure, except I like our dirt roads! This was walking home from having devotions at school one morning.

And another road! This taxi has a load of fish. The head pans hanging out the back are stacked on a board sticking out the back and tied fast. The ones on top are just sitting on a board. I don't know how they stay on but they do! Kenny is pretty sure if he tried it, they would all fall off!

  Time continues to move rapidly even on even if life is slower paced then it has been for a long time. Kenny has more free time now that he isn't involved at Salt. We are exploring ideas for more outreach, talking to people, discussing ideas. But we also don't want to jump into things that don't line up with the missions vision or that we can't maintain. So many things would work best for people on the weekends or after school. How do we balance family life with ministry? 

  Kelsey had been doing Fante class for most of a year with another couple from the mission. They are moving home next year so they stopped and a new family decided they want to start. She really wanted to continue and Austin was also interested in learning Fante. Kenny and I had thrown the idea around last time they started a class and this time it just felt like it would be doable. So all of us except Brent are taking a Fante class twice a week. Kenny and I had done some classes several years ago so for now it is just relearning what we forgot.

  Some specific prayer requests; Marvin and Grace Zeiset are moving to Ghana the end of October, pray for them as they make that transition. Two families are moving back to the states next year, pray for them as they make that move, the ones continuing on here, that we keep the enthusiasm and vision, and also for new families to answer the call to join the mission here. There are several people that Kenny or I interact with every week. People that need Jesus. Pray for these lost souls to seek God and for wisdom for us as we teach. Pray that God would show Himself strong and that He would be glorified!